incorrect installation of piston rings

sense of nature · 07-08-2008, 10:57 AM

Just wanted to get more input on this matter
a buddy of mine had forged pistons installed by a local speed shop ... all they do is build hi perf motors & they have quite a good reputation anyway
a cel came on w/ code for cyl # 3 missfire .
He brought it to another "local" shop for diag they told him that the rings were installed incorrectly ? Motor only had 50 -90 miles on it.
It ran smooth & beautiful for that amount of mileage , no miss, no hesitation no burning of oil , nothing .It was tight .
I think/know they took him for a ride, because they wound up tearing his heads down , sending them out, installing new seals & guides ( his heads had approx 60k on them. heads were fine before this " diagnosis" not sure what reason for that teardown was?except to cover they're ass & just replace everything ..
Any way they said all 3 rings were installed the same ,the gaps were all lined up ? There is only 1 way to install the oil ring so how could this be ? just looking for some input, not looking to slam anyone ... yet

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

charliew · 07-08-2008, 11:25 AM

Everybody in the business thinks their way is the only way. The ring gaps must be staggered to help stop leakage. The oil ring is there only to scrape the oil back down the cylinder, not to seal for compression. The heads probably could be freshened up to make the rebuild last longer. There are lots of "motor" shops that aren't the best high performance shops. The best way to learn about a thing is to spend your hard earned money and find out there was a better way. When you do learn for sure a shop is shoddy you should tell your friends but only after you are sure about the facts. You need to know the facts for sure, I would not repeat what one shop says until their repair is proven for a sustained long interval. As you spend your money you will learn to ask the best questions to get a good understanding of the competance of the shop. Some shops are good shops learning to be good subie shops but end ring gaps are really very common knowledge.

misfires happen. 50-90 miles is a very short breakin.

wittmer25 has a very good running motor and he has misfires at idle. He is running a light flywheel and a ati dampner.

Some guys run out of money and patience shopping price on hotrodding.

07-08-2008, 10:57 AM	#1
sense of nature Scooby Guru Member#: 112759 Join Date: Apr 2006 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: In the V hole! Vehicle: 02 Srp STi... R ur Boltz to long????	incorrect installation of piston rings Just wanted to get more input on this matter a buddy of mine had forged pistons installed by a local speed shop ... all they do is build hi perf motors & they have quite a good reputation anyway a cel came on w/ code for cyl # 3 missfire . He brought it to another "local" shop for diag they told him that the rings were installed incorrectly ? Motor only had 50 -90 miles on it. It ran smooth & beautiful for that amount of mileage , no miss, no hesitation no burning of oil , nothing .It was tight . I think/know they took him for a ride, because they wound up tearing his heads down , sending them out, installing new seals & guides ( his heads had approx 60k on them. heads were fine before this " diagnosis" not sure what reason for that teardown was?except to cover they're ass & just replace everything .. Any way they said all 3 rings were installed the same ,the gaps were all lined up ? There is only 1 way to install the oil ring so how could this be ? just looking for some input, not looking to slam anyone ... yet * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
causes of worn piston rings?	Sir Punk	Newbies & FAQs	16	09-19-2009 08:13 PM
What Kind of Block , Piston , ring and Rod i'm gonna buy ?	subaru_sti293	Built Motor Discussion	3	02-20-2008 07:55 PM
Piston rings installed wrong from the factory! JDM	RS_to_WRX_swap	Built Motor Discussion	16	04-05-2007 02:39 PM
Incorrect Installation of Slotted Rotors	HoOn	Brakes, Steering & Suspension	11	08-18-2005 09:25 PM
How to instal piston rings?	Cusco	Normally Aspirated with bolt-on Forced Induction Powertrain	3	05-21-2003 02:02 AM

07-08-2008, 11:25 AM	#2
charliew Scooby Specialist Member#: 125304 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Crawford, TX.	Everybody in the business thinks their way is the only way. The ring gaps must be staggered to help stop leakage. The oil ring is there only to scrape the oil back down the cylinder, not to seal for compression. The heads probably could be freshened up to make the rebuild last longer. There are lots of "motor" shops that aren't the best high performance shops. The best way to learn about a thing is to spend your hard earned money and find out there was a better way. When you do learn for sure a shop is shoddy you should tell your friends but only after you are sure about the facts. You need to know the facts for sure, I would not repeat what one shop says until their repair is proven for a sustained long interval. As you spend your money you will learn to ask the best questions to get a good understanding of the competance of the shop. Some shops are good shops learning to be good subie shops but end ring gaps are really very common knowledge. misfires happen. 50-90 miles is a very short breakin. wittmer25 has a very good running motor and he has misfires at idle. He is running a light flywheel and a ati dampner. Some guys run out of money and patience shopping price on hotrodding.